Health Care Reform: Supplemental and Long-Term Care Insurance (Testimony,
11/09/93, GAO/T-HRD-94-58).

Provisions of the Clinton administration's Health Security Act that deal
with private long-term care insurance and supplemental health insurance
address many of the problems that GAO has pointed out in the past.  The
act has detailed sections governing the content and marketing of such
insurance, including disclosure standards that protect consumers from
deceptive marketing practices, grievance procedures that allow
policyholders to contest insurance company decisions, and sales
commission standards that discourage questionable sales practices.  In
general, GAO believes that the administration's proposal contains the
kinds of consumer protections that GAO has long advocated. Some
problems, however, are not addressed.  Specifically, the act will not
protect consumers from the sale of duplicate policies or high-pressure
sales techniques.  It also does not address other kinds of supplemental
insurance that cover specific diseases or conditions requiring
hospitalization.  Because of their limited, narrow coverage, such
insurance may be unnecessary for many consumers.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HRD-94-58
     TITLE:  Health Care Reform: Supplemental and Long-Term Care 
             Insurance
      DATE:  11/09/93
   SUBJECT:  Long-term care
             Insurance regulation
             Health insurance
             Consumer protection
             Medicare programs
             Health insurance cost control
             Public health legislation
             Proposed legislation
             Insurance premiums
             Eligibility criteria
IDENTIFIER:  Medicaid Program
             Medigap
             Health Security Act
             National Health Care Reform Initiative
             Clinton Health Care Plan
             
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